Press Release

The CalOptima Chief Executive Officer, Richard Sanchez, has appointed Yunkyung Kim, MPH, as Chief Operating Officer of the public agency. Kim will assume the role on October 1, 2021.

A leader with over 20 years’ experience in driving health care transformation in publicly funded programs including Medi-Cal, Medicare, Cal MediConnect and Covered California, Kim is returning to CalOptima from Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan where she served as Vice President of Medi-Cal Growth and Vice President of Medi-Cal Performance. There, she led growth strategy, business development and community and provider engagement, as well as key aspects of operations, governance and regulatory oversight.

“I have a personal and professional passion for improving the experience and delivery of health services for diverse and under resourced communities,” said Kim. “I look forward to returning to CalOptima and continuing the organization’s mission for well into the future.”

Kim is returning to CalOptima where, from 2004–2012, she was responsible for directing the plan’s public relations, internal and external communications, community engagement and relationships with regulators, elected officials and local agencies.

“The CalOptima Board is excited to welcome back Yunkyung to our family as COO,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, Chair of the CalOptima Board of Directors and Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “Yunkyung’s expertise in health care policy development; strong reputation for developing and executing strategies; and proven track record of effective leadership will be instrumental in helping us implement and integrate future programs, including CalAIM (California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal), that seek to improve quality of life and the health outcomes of our population.”

Kim’s previous positions include Plan Chief Operating Officer; Vice President, Government Contracts; and Director, New Initiatives at Molina Health Care of California. Kim holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Policy and Management and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Berkeley.

A county organized health system, CalOptima provides publicly funded health care coverage for low-income children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities in Orange County, California. CalOptima’s mission is to provide members with access to quality health care services delivered in a cost-effective and compassionate manner. In total, CalOptima serves more than 842,000 members with a network of 9,200 primary care doctors and specialists as well as 42 acute and rehab hospitals.